Mazda 3 Lease Deals

The Mazda 3 is a five-seat family car sold as a hatchback or a saloon, powered by petrol engines of 138 to 183 bhp driving the front wheels. It sits between Mazda's small cars and its CX crossovers, and it's aimed at drivers who still want a low, car-shaped family car rather than another SUV.

Choosing one is refreshingly simple. Pick the body - the 4.46 m hatchback or the longer saloon - then a petrol engine with a manual or automatic gearbox, in Exclusive-Line trim.

Reviewers consistently praise the 3 for its cabin quality, its steering and its gearshift, and just as consistently note that rear seat space and boot flexibility trail the class best. If you mostly carry adults in the back, sit in one first.

Image for illustration purposes only. The actual vehicle and specification may differ.

About the Mazda 3

The 3 is Mazda's family hatchback, in this third-generation form since 2019, and it has always been the keen driver's pick in a class that mostly chases space. It carries five people, and is backed by a 6-year or 100,000-mile manufacturer warranty.

Road testers regularly describe the interior as a class above, with proper physical controls rather than a screen for everything. The trade-off is packaging: the hatchback holds 334 litres with the rear seats up, the saloon 450, and neither is the roomiest option behind the front seats.

Safety is a strong point. The 3 was awarded a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with 98% for adult occupant protection.

3 body styles

Two shapes, the same cabin, the same engines. The hatchback is the more flexible everyday car; the saloon is longer, quieter-looking and carries more in its boot, if less easily.

Hatchback

Five doors, 4.46 m long and 334 litres of boot with the seats up, rising to 1,026 litres folded. The tailgate and folding seats make awkward loads far easier, which is why most UK buyers choose this body.

Saloon

Four doors, 4.66 m long and 450 litres of boot, or 1,138 litres with the rear seats down. A slightly kinder roofline helps rear headroom, but a saloon boot opening limits bulky items.

Why lease a Mazda 3?

Because there's only one trim, every 3 arrives generously equipped, so there's little agonising over options and no risk of ordering a stripped-out car. That matters on a lease, where you live with the specification you chose for the whole term.

Standard across the range: adaptive cruise control, head-up display, built-in navigation, a digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, LED headlights, ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers and an electric parking brake.

The driver-assistance kit is thorough too - autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition and automatic high beam. Servicing falls due every 12 months or 12,500 miles, and insurance groups run from 17 to 24.

Image for illustration purposes only. The actual vehicle and specification may differ.

View Mazda 3 deals

Which 3 powertrain is right for me?

There's one answer here: petrol. No plug, no charging, no home wallbox to arrange - just fuel it and drive, which still suits plenty of drivers who cover long or unpredictable mileages.

Petrol

A 2.0 or 2.5-litre four-cylinder with 138-183 bhp and 238-240 Nm, driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual or automatic. Expect 0-62 mph in 8.1-9.8 seconds depending on version, 44.8-51.4 mpg on the WLTP test and CO2 of 123-141 g/km. Braked towing is 1,300 kg.

Mazda 3 at a glance

Which 3 trim should I choose?

The 3 range is a single trim, Exclusive-Line, so the real decision is body style and gearbox rather than specification.

Image for illustration purposes only. The actual vehicle and specification may differ.

Exclusive-Line

Exclusive-Line brings 18-inch grey alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, the Mazda navigation system with European mapping, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a leather-wrapped gear knob. It also has cloth upholstery, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, wireless phone charging, front parking sensors, dual-zone climate, privacy glass, paddle shifters and an auto-dimming mirror. The entry version has 138 bhp and front-wheel drive.

The Exclusive-Line is currently available from £256.20 a month.

Eleven paint colours are offered across the range, from Arctic white and Jet black to Soul red crystal, Polymetal grey and Zircon sand. Colour choice can affect lead time, so it's worth asking our team what's building before you commit.

Similar cars to consider

If you're cross-shopping, the CUPRA Leon, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Peugeot 308 all cover similar ground, and the rest of the Mazda range is worth a look too.

Volkswagen Golf

From £238.67 a month

Ford Focus

From £442.42 a month

Peugeot 308

From £313.19 a month

Škoda Scala

From £216.36 a month

Mazda 3 FAQs

Specifications from Mazda's UK data and Euro NCAP; equipment and availability vary by version, so check the individual deal. FVL has arranged vehicle leases for over 25 years.

Page updated 5 October 2026 by First Vehicle Leasing. Prices and availability shown on this page are live and change as deals are refreshed.